Community on same
NATA Oval page

By
Stan Gorton

EVERYONE is now hopefully on the same page when it comes to fencing and the use of NATA Oval as it relates to the ongoing streetscaping project on the Narooma Flat.

Community on same
NATA Oval page

ON THE OVAL: Meeting on NATA Oval over the weekend are local Animal Welfare League branch representative Daiva Ceicys and her dog Titan, youth committee member Ben Potter and deputy mayor Neil Burnside.

EVERYONE is now
hopefully on the same page when it comes to fencing and the use of NATA Oval as
it relates to the ongoing streetscaping project on the Narooma Flat.

Consultants
employed by Eurobodalla Shire Council suggested one option would be to replace
the existing chain-link fence around the oval with a more aesthetically
pleasing white picket fence.

Even though it
was only a suggestion, it upset Animal Welfare League members who had only
recently lobbied council to install the new fence to make the oval secure for
its dog training activities.

Deputy mayor Neil
Burnside said all the heated debate and petition were counterproductive as
council early on had determined not to proceed with the picket fence option
once the opposition was voiced.

“There was never
‘a plan’ to replace the current NATA Oval fence, but a consultant's proposal
for the streetscaping of the new section of highway, in which they included,
off their own bat, and unsolicited by anyone acting for the council, an idea to
introduce a picket fence,” he said.

“The process the
council adopted in assessing what was best for the streetscaping was entirely
appropriate, inclusive, democratic and fair.”

The Narooma News
on Sunday met with deputy mayor Neil Burnside, AWL spokesperson Daiva Ceicys
and Narooma youth committee member Ben Potter, who had taken an interest in the
matter writing letters and making submissions.

Young Ben said
the youth committee following a meeting determined it would like to see the
NATA oval area used more by the community for various events.

Ideas could be to
have more sports days and or concerts with grandstand seating an option.

Ms Ceicys said
the AWL too would love to see the oval/park put to better use, although
technically it was not big enough to be sporting “oval”.

“It would be
fantastic if more children could use it as it is a safe and secure
environment,” she said.

She did point out
that Narooma Area Tourist Association that the area was named after was long
defunct and perhaps council could organise a renaming competition.

Clr Burnside said
any additional plans for the oval area would need to come in future proposals
as the current streetscaping plan only allowed for a slight realignment of the
existing fence at the visitor centre to make room for a play area.